The Heatwave

Loki had been acting very differently toward her since she slapped him, much to Eisa's delight and surprise. He was less impatient with her and seemed to be more tolerant of presence. He stopped flinching away from her casual touches and he made a point to try and have conversations with her more regularly, mostly pleasantries and small talk, but she would take it over broody silence any day. He remembered Eisa's comment about new clothes providing her with a distraction, so he sent for a fashion catalog and arranged for an appointment with the realm's finest clothier.

Loki watched sprawled out in an armchair in the bedroom as seamstresses took Eisa's measurements and offered her samples of fabrics to choose from. The week leading up to this day, Eisa had been giving all her attention to the catalog of Asgardian women's fashion, culling garments from her already overflowing side of the closet and making a list of items she wanted made.

"What do you think of this one, Loki?" She handed him a swatch of dark forest green satin.

"I like it," he pulled the fabric through his fingers, "It has a pleasant texture. What did you have in mind for it?"

"A dressing gown, perhaps? Or a new nightgown?"

He handed the swatch to the seamstress recording the order, "Make it a matching set. With slippers too."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Oh, and also one of those," he drew circles around his head with his index finger.

"A hair scarf, My Prince?"

"Yes, but break up the green with some golden embroidery."

"Of course. Do you fancy any particular patterns? Florals, or fauna?"

"Little doves, if you please."

She nodded and scribbled the notes in her book, "Doves it is."

Eisa blushed and covered her grin with her fingers as she went back to the swatches, her fingers trailing over an inky black silk. If he was trying to make her fall more in love with him, it was working.

oOXOo

Several parcels arrived for Eisa the next day.

"That was a rather quick turnaround," Loki said as he helped carry the elegantly wrapped packages from the dressmaker to their bedroom.

"Oh," she giggled, "No these are just a few staples that are not custom. Mostly undergarments and a couple of light summer pieces."

"I see. Are you going to have enough room for all of this?"

"Greta is still helping me go through my things. I will be donating quite a bit. Most of these dresses I have had since I was in secondary school."

"So not very long at all?"

"Hilarious," she rolled her eyes, "Maybe the King could use a new jester at court?"

"Odin is surrounded by enough clowns as it is." Loki smirked as he set the boxes in the closet, "Speaking of which... What is the latest word on your father?" He motioned for her to walk out ahead of him.

"Since he resigned from working for the King, Yulla finally agreed to the dissolution of their marriage, contingent he pays her a monthly stipend. According to Groa, he is now courting the daughter of the ambassador to Vanaheim. Who just so happens to be the same age as my sister, Brita." She made a disgusted face as she relaxed on the sofa.

"What's this?" Loki laughed as he went to the bar and filled two glasses with water, "I thought you were all for older men with younger women?"

"There is a difference between a little bit older, and well, just old. My father is not that much younger than yours. I do not understand the appeal. Thank you," she accepted the glass from Loki's outstretched hand.

"Firstly, not my father." Loki held a finger up to her as he sat at the other end of the sofa, "Secondly, now that he is rid of Yulla, he is free to remarry. Of course he would choose someone young; he is still holding out hope for a male heir."

"At his age? Isn't he too old to still be having..." She pursed her lips, "... make babies?"

"Not at all." Loki laughed. "Men can reproduce well into their elderly years."

"Are you certain? He tried having a baby with Yulla for ages."

"Yulla's previous profession required her to be sterile. The effects of the Prevensjon are not easily reversed. He should have known he would be wasting his seed on a barren field."

Eisa cocked her head to the side, "What kind of career would require Prevensjon?"

"Think about it." He smirked and sipped from his glass.

He watched her in amusement as the crease formed between her eyebrows. He enjoyed watching the expressions she made when she was concentrating and the way her face completely changed when recognition dawned on her.

"Women can earn a living having sex?!"

"Women, men, and any consenting adult in between. You've had to have heard the term 'whore' before."

"Oh... I thought it was just an insult." She covered her mouth and laughed, "No wonder I was punished so harshly for calling Brita a whore for breaking all of my colored pencils when we were children."

Loki chuckled as he watched her, Adorable.

Eisa held her glass to her forehead and cheeks, "This weather is obnoxious."

"According to the almanacs, it will only get worse before it gets better."

"You read the almanacs?"

"I read everything."

"Will you show me how to read the tables?" There was a sparkle in her eye.

"Right now?"

"Why not?" She smiled at him.

"Why not?" He smiled back at her, "Follow me."

He led her to the back of the library where he pulled a collection of large sheets of paper from a vertical file on the wall and spread them carefully onto the wide writing table nearby.

"The forecasters look at many factors to predict the weather: sunspot activity, the phases of the moon, tidal action, the position of the realms around Yggdrasil. Even the rate of lumber production and plant growth cycles can affect the weather." He looked at all the data spread out before him with admiration. He quickly looked at Eisa to gauge her reaction. She was staring at the table, grinning and wide-eyed.

"Is this a chart of ocean currents?"

"It is. And these colors represent-"

"Water temperature?"

"Yes." He nodded in approval.

"What is the correlation between water temperature and relative humidity?"

Loki watched her as she leaned over the table and traced the lines of a graph with her finger.

He went on to show Eisa how the data was compiled to make long-term predictions of the weather. They were huddled around the table for hours, charting barometric pressure, wind speeds, and precipitation levels to compare their own forecasts to those of the experts. They had pulled out maps of Asgard and charted air temperatures in communities near bodies of water versus relatively landlocked areas.

"But look here," Eisa yawned widely before pointing out a snowcapped ridge, "If the air higher than this altitude rises more than five degrees above average, you must take into consideration the added water volume of these rivers due to ice melt. It could contribute to the rise in humidity by fifteen percent or more."

"Ooh. Nice catch." Loki adjusted the formula on his notepad. "No matter how you look at it, we are in for a brutal summer."

"Bleh." Eisa yawned again, looking over her shoulder at the large clock on the far wall. "Norns, Loki, it is after one in the morning."

"Already?" He set his pencil down and rubbed his eyes.

"Time passes quickly when you are having fun." She stood and stretched.

Loki watched her as she raised her arms above her head and yawned again, "Jest all you like. I am not ashamed of my hobby."

"Who was jesting? I had a lot of fun tonight. Didn't you?"

"It is not my favorite way to spend the night with a pretty girl, but yes. I did enjoy myself quite a bit. Thank you for indulging in this with me."

"Thank you for showing me. I find it fascinating." She hugged him around his shoulders from behind as he was still seated.

He patted her arm, "You should get to bed."

"Are you staying up?" She came back around to his side, "Your eyes are red and tired. You should really give them a break."

"You go on ahead. I will be along shortly."

"Why do you wait for me to fall asleep before you come to bed?" Her face was etched with concern.

"Honestly?"

"Please." She nodded for him to continue.

"The whole ritual of preparing for bed at the same time would feel rather intimate. Don't you think?"

Eisa let out a bark of laughter and covered her mouth with her hand. "More intimate than me waking up on your bare chest every morning?"

"Good point."

"I'm guessing you never had to share a bedroom or a bathroom with Thor growing up?"

"No."

"I shared one bathroom with no less than three sisters for most of my life. I would not call any part of that experience intimate." She tugged on his hand, "Come on, scaredy cat, let me show you how it's done."

Loki hesitated, but eventually relented and let her pull him to the bedroom.

"You wash your face and brush your teeth while I change into my bedclothes. When you are finished, we trade. Is that so difficult?"

He chuckled shyly, "I suppose not."

"I didn't think so." She booped his nose with her index finger before making her way toward the closet.

He flinched backward before laughing in amusement as he watched her walk away. He touched his nose unconsciously and kept his eyes on her until he was in front of the bathroom door.

Loki finished his nightly preparations and made his way over to his side of the bed, pulling back the covers and sliding in. It struck him as odd that the bed felt so wrong. He was used to climbing in after she was already fast asleep. But now it was empty as she was finishing up in the bathroom.

She came back into the bedroom shaking her hair out after being tied up all day. Long and billowing, the coppery color was a stark contrast against the pristine white of her nightgown. He couldn't tear his eyes away and followed her as she made her way around the bed. The juxtaposition of the virginal white gown to the wild, tousled curls was like a magnet for Loki's gaze.

She turned out the light and climbed in on her side, laying down to face him as he was still sitting up in bed. Taking a deep breath she asked, "Should we pretend you are going to stay on your side of the bed tonight? Or should we save time and just meet in the middle now?"

Loki sighed; trying to think of a retort but failing, he moved to the middle of the bed and settled down before opening his arms to her. She immediately curled up to his chest, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arm around his torso.

"Good night, Loki."

"Good night, Eisa." Without thinking, he squeezed her tight and placed a kiss on her forehead.

He froze immediately, but Eisa laughed.

"My lips are down here." She tapped her lips with her index finger.

Loki scoffed and mussed her hair with his large hand, "Go to sleep, Princess."

"Fine. But only because I want to." She pushed her hair off her face and let out a drowsy yawn.

Brat.

His hand twitched, tempted to smack her on the bum, but he stopped himself. "Fine." He settled for another kiss on her forehead and closed his eyes. A smile played on his lips and his thumb softly stroked her back as he drifted off to sleep.

oOXOo

The following week was even hotter than the previous. The jovial companionship Loki and Eisa had been sharing crumbled in the unforgiving heat. Loki was not genetically dispositioned to be this hot for this long and Eisa felt the beginning twinges of cramps starting.

No, no, no... not now. Anytime but now. She checked her journal and her calendar, and sure enough, her last period was well over a year ago.

Misery upon misery. This is perfect timing.

As much as she tried to stay in good spirits, she snapped at Loki with little provocation and then cried heavy tears when he returned her terseness.

One night, after a particularly hot day, Loki was standing beside the bed getting ready to slide in when Eisa came out of the bathroom.

His eyes locked on her, "What are you wearing?"

"What?"

She emerged from the bathroom wearing a black silk nightie that barely reached the top of her thighs. It had thin spaghetti straps and the back plunged nearly to her ass. The delicate fabric skimmed her hips, dancing just above the surface of her smooth ivory skin. Her hair was loose, the thick copper curls cascading over one shoulder as she made her way to the other side of the bed.

Loki was transfixed. "You are practically naked."

"What does that matter? You are not tempted by me, right? Besides, this has been an abnormally warm summer. I might as well sleep comfortably." She looked to Loki, bare chested and wearing only a thin pair of sleep shorts. "You sleep half naked."

"I would sleep fully naked if you were not here."

"Yes, please do protect my innocence." She rolled her eyes as she turned down the covers, "Do not let me stop you. Sleep naked if you want to."

He let out a frustrated huff, "I am doing my best to protect you."

She fluffed her pillows, "If you say so." Her skimpy nightie gaped at the neck as she crawled into bed. Loki could see she wore nothing beneath but a tiny pair of matching black panties.

"What do you hope to achieve dressing like this in front of me?"

"Achieve?" her shapely legs were on full display on the bedsheets, she tied her hair up to a messy knot on the top of her head. He traced her graceful neck, shoulders, and collar bones with his eyes. "I plan to achieve a comfortable night's sleep. If you do not like it, you can quit staring."

Loki scoffed, "I am not staring."

"You have not taken your eyes off me so either you see something you like, or you are trying to assert your dominance over me. So, which is it?"

Loki quickly averted his gaze. "I do not appreciate your cheek." He turned down his side of the bed.

"How am I being cheeky? You were the one rudely staring."

"You forget your place."

"Do remind me of my place again. Am I your wife? Your sister? Your pet?"

"You are my giant pain in the ass!"

"Piss off, Loki!" She laid down and tried to get comfortable. "I am tired of your whining and self-pity. From now on, while you are in this bed, you can either sleep next to me quietly or fuck me. That is all."

Shocked by her bluntness, "I should fuck that saucy mouth of yours into obedience."

"Making empty threats, are we? I do not recall that being one of the two options you were offered." She rolled over and faced the wall, "Get the lights, would you?"

Loki stood staring at her back to him, gaping. His temper flared. He grabbed hold of a pillow, thinking he would go sleep on the sofa. As he turned toward the door, he paused. He hated sleeping on the sofa, it reminded him of his cot in the dungeon and it was Hel on his back. He exhaled slowly to regain his composure. He switched the lights off and crawled into the bed, his eyes tracing the shape of her body in the moonlight as she faced away from him.

As much as he hated to admit it to himself, she was right, he did like what he saw.

A lot.

He wanted to reach out and pull her against his chest, hitch up that tiny little nightie and rub his throbbing cock against her sweet ass. What's worse is he knew she wanted that too. He knew she would welcome him; her body would respond eagerly to his touch. He imagined the way she would writhe for him as he slid his fingers into her panties.

Biting his lip, he squeezed his eyes closed and tried to push the images from his mind. But it was too late, his cock was at full attention, aching and straining against the cloth of his pajama bottoms. Slowly, he let his hand slide under the sheet and freed himself from the confines. His cock sprang from his pajamas and came back to hit him on the belly with an audible smack. He froze knowing she had not had enough time to be fully asleep yet. Waiting a moment to see if she would stir, he slowly let his hand slide to his cock and gave it some much needed attention. Languidly teasing himself as to not jostle the bed. All the while, he never took his eyes off her shapely form and the exposed skin of her back in front of him.

His breaths were coming quicker, the slow pace of his strokes edging him to the boundaries of bliss, tightening the coil in his belly, he skirted the edge, not having the speed to send him over. He brought his free hand up to bite his fist to keep himself from moaning as he recalled how warm and smooth her skin felt on his. His hips bucked into his hand involuntarily, shaking the bed. She stirred but did not roll over. 'Stop, stop, stop.' He tried to force himself to surrender his pursuit, but he could not, he was past the point of turning back.

He rolled out of the bed and quickly made his way to the bathroom, quietly shutting the door behind him, he did not turn on the light but did open the tap wide on the sink, hoping the sound of the rushing water would cover the deep groan that erupted from his chest as he spilled in the basin. He braced himself with his other hand on the counter as he jerked himself, hard and fast, hips bucking into his grip, his head fell back, and his eyes clamped shut. Panting, he placed both hands on each side of the sink and let his head hang in front of him while he tried to catch his breath.

His strong right hand was quickly becoming a poor substitute for the real thing, he still felt unsatisfied. He had to stay strong. He could not give in to his base desires. Without his seiðr, he had no way of shielding himself from getting a child in her. He could pull out of her at the last minute, but it was a gamble. He could teach her to pleasure him with her mouth and that could probably keep him satisfied for a while, depending on her how well she took to the idea. He also pondered about her entering her in the rear, but quickly dismissed the notion, he did not want to force the issue for his own pleasure.

He had to put it out of his mind. What was he thinking? Guilt twisted his guts. He looked at himself in the mirror, the dim moonlight from the window distorting his features. He flipped the light on and studied his face. His finger traced the fine lines around his eyes, the subtle creases on his forehead.

It is true he had not changed much since his initial imprisonment, but Eisa was still so fresh and youthful.

Eisa.

Stunning, vivacious, quirky Eisa. The baby sister of the first girl to put her hand in his pants. Loki thought of Anina and the last time he had seen her. The anger and disappointment on her face was still vivid in his mind.

He cleaned the sink and washed his hands. After switching the lights off, he took a deep breath to center himself before slipping out of the bathroom and sliding back into bed. As he did, Eisa rolled over to face him.

"Loki?"

"Hmm?"

"I am sorry I told you to piss off." She reached over and put her left hand on his bicep. "I did not mean it."

Tentatively, he put his hand over hers. "I know." He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, "I should not have said what I said about your new night gown. You have every right to wear whatever you want. I should not have stared at you and made you feel uncomfortable."

"You did not make me uncomfortable." She paused, "It excites me when you look at me in that way."

"What way?"

"Like you want to take a bite out of me."

"Is that what it looked like to you?"

"Mm-hmm." She in turn started rubbing her thumb on his bicep. "I knew what I was doing when I put this on. I was hoping you would tear it from my body."

"Eisa..." A wicked thought popped into his mind. He could not stop himself as he said, "I would never dream of tearing it off you."

"Never?" He didn't need to see her face to know she was pouting.

"No. You look far too delicious in it. I would not tear it from your body. I would bend you over the bed and take you from behind while you still had it on."

"Ugh, Loki!" she pinched him hard on the arm. "The way you tease me! Do you derive some sick pleasure from putting images in my head that you never intend to carry out?"

"Ouch, brat!" Loki laughed as he swatted her hand away. "I must. Why else would I keep doing it? It is only fair. I now have the image of you in that nightie catalogued in my mind."

"Hmmm... I could take it off if it makes you uncomfortable."

"You are lucky I just took care of my own need, or you would be in trouble."

"What?! Just now?" She propped herself up on one elbow to look at him.

"I thought you were asleep. What did you think I was doing in there?"

"Not that!"

Loki chuckled, "It has made me rather drowsy, so be a good girl, lay down and go to sleep."

"How am I supposed to sleep now?"

Loki closed his eyes, "Is something the matter?"

"Yes!"

"Do you want some privacy?"

"Ugh, Loki. I... I tried to..." she flopped back down on the bed, "I tried to, but I could not get anything to... occur. I think I am broken. I think it is just not going to happen for me."

"I doubt you are broken, little dove." He took a deep, sleepy breath.

"How do you know? How do you know everyone can... you know?"

"Come?"

"Yes, that."

"If you are too embarrassed to say the word, you are probably not ready to actually participate in actions that will make you come."

"I am ready! I have been ready. I just... always feel like you are waiting for any excuse to mock me. To make fun of me for my lack of experience."

"Of course, I am. I get no better amusement than when you are all fluffed up like an angry cat."

"Very funny."

"You are young. You have many years and countless orgasms ahead of you."

He got no response, so he opened his eyes and turned to look at her. She had a grimace on her face, she was holding her breath, and her hands were balled into tight fists.

"Eisa?" Loki rolled over to face her, "Eisa, what is the matter?"

"Pain." She managed to breathe out.

Loki sat up, suddenly panic-stricken. "What's the matter? Where does it hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"You most certainly are not fine!"

"Shhh..." Eisa clamped her eyes shut and pulled her knees up to her chest, squeezing them tightly. "This will pass."

"I'm calling for a nurse." He started to get out of bed.

She grabbed his arm, "No. Loki, stop. It's just a cramp. It is already starting to pass. I will be fine. This happens every time."

He watched her as she started to relax and rub both of her hands on her abdomen.

"Oh..." Understanding dawned on him. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No, just come back to bed. Come and hold me, please."

His heart squeezed in his chest as he moved closer and opened his arms to her. "Are you sure you are going to be all right?" He hugged her tightly.

"I will be just fine. This is the price I must pay if I want to bear children. The days leading up to the start are the worst part. I'm sorry I have been so unpleasant."

"You have every right to be unpleasant. Going through this on top of this unforgiving heat? I do not envy you."

She chuckled as she settled in and got more comfortable, "There are a multitude of reasons to not envy me." She ran her fingertips lightly back and forth over his chest hair.

"Try to get some sleep, little dove." He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply before placing a kiss on her forehead. 

Eisa's period started the next day and despite her protests, Loki waited on her hand and foot. Drawing her bath, bringing her snacks and drinks without her asking, fetching her sketchbook and pencils from her studio. Loki's care and attention notwithstanding, she was relieved when it ended a week later.

oOXOo

Summers in Asgard were always warm and bright. But rarely had the heat and humidity risen to these extreme levels. The palace's clever design of wide windows usually provided enough cross breeze to remain comfortable in the summer months. Unfortunately, for all the citizens of the capital, the last couple of days the wind had refused to stir. The air was thick and stagnant, and the unrelenting heat took no breaks even after the sun went down.

Loki and Eisa were spending most of their days together, finding new ways to pass the time and help each other keep their minds off the overwhelming heat. They played chess together in a shady corner of the balcony, put jigsaw puzzles together on the coffee table while sitting on the floor, they took turns choosing passages to read to each other from their favorite books. Bored and restless, Loki had even taken to chasing Eisa around the apartment, trying to find her as she tucked herself away somewhere.

"Lokiii! Hurry, I need you!" Eisa found him in the library one afternoon.

He jumped up from his seat on high alert, looking for an injury, "What is it?"

She didn't respond, she simply walked up to him and put one of his large hands on her forehead, the other on the back of her neck. "Ahh... much better." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I knew there had to be some small reward for putting up with you."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Shhh... don't ruin this."

He chuckled, "Oh, are you hot, little dove?"

"Yes, extremely."

"Imagine how I feel?"

"I'm sorry," she moved his hands to her cheeks, "Take your shirt off for me?"

"You are a needy little thing." He smushed her face between his hands and laughed before he released her and peeled his loose shirt off over his head. His hair had been tied back in a knot to keep it off his neck. He had no sooner placed the shirt neatly over his chair before she had her arms around him, and her face pressed against his chest.

He laughed again as he started running his hands lightly over the backs of her arms and the curve of her neck, "Does this truly help?"

"It doesn't hurt. As long as I don't think about... other things." Her arms were pressed firmly to the bare skin of his back, her fingers spread wide. "Mmmm."

"At least one of us gets some relief from this. Your skin feels like fire on mine."

"I am sorry. I can pay you back this winter. But for now, I will try to keep this brief."

As the mercury began to rise higher and higher, and the nights were just as hot as the days, Loki began willingly letting Eisa cuddle him, day or night. While his skin wasn't cold, it was still cool enough to offer some relief from the sweltering heat; enough for her to get some sleep at least. Loki chose to stand under the cold water of a shower every so often during the day to earn a respite from the smothering temperatures.

The sound of wings and talons on the window ledge drew both of their attention away from each other. A large black raven had perched itself in the open window.

Loki sighed heavily, "This is not what it looks like."

The raven cocked his head and cawed.

"Could you offer us some relief? You will not get what you want if we both perish from heat stroke." He shooed the bird away with his hand.

Eisa looked at him, curious, "You talk to the ravens too?"

"That was no ordinary raven." He raised his eyebrow, "What do you mean 'too'?"

"That raven and his friend visit me on the balcony of my studio often." An embarrassed little laugh escaped her, "I talk to them and feed them corn. They have become my good friends over these many months. I've named them Myrkr and Nátt."

"I hate to break it to you, little dove, but those rats with wings are not your friends. Their names are Hugin and Munin; Odin's eyes and ears."

Eisa pulled away and looked at him horrified, "What?"

"They report back to Odin with everything they see and hear."

"I have poured my heart out to those birds! Oh, Norns!"

Loki chuckled, "Nothing too personal, I hope."

She placed both hands on her stomach, "I will never be able to look the King in the eye again."

Loki rubbed her upper arms, "He has much more pressing things to worry about than the ceaseless ramblings of a young girl."

"Oh, you..." Eisa reached up and patted his cheek stiffly, "You are fortunate I vowed never to hit you again."

He gave her a sly grin.

"Oh no you don't. I see those devious little plans forming in your mind. That was not a challenge, Loki Odinson." She took a step back. "That was not an invitation for you to irk me until I break down and strike you."

"Now who is no fun?" He took a step forward.

"Don't you dare." She took another step back; he took another step forward.

"I will give you a head start," he lowered his voice and leveled her with a devilish smile.

"Oh no..." She took another step back.

"Oh yes..."

"Loki..."

"Run!"

Eisa shrieked as she turned quickly and tried to remember the quickest way out of the library. She made her way into the hallway and started running toward her studio until she realized it would be a dead end. She ran back to the library and closed the door before sailing down the hall to the sitting room. She stopped in the archway and looked around. There weren't too many more options: bedroom, dining room, foyer, balcony.

Think, think, think...

She heard the library door swing open. She didn't look back, but she did swear under her breath before running for the dining room and squeezed between the chairs to hide under the table. The linen draped down far enough to partially conceal her but left enough room for her to look out from underneath it as she lay flat. She watched as Loki stood in the archway at the end of the hall where she had paused.

Eisa bit her lip as she took in the sight of him. He had removed his shoes and kept his shirt off. With his hair tied back and his trousers slung low on his hips, he looked delectable.

"Where have you perched yourself, little dove?" He stalked around the sitting room. "I only want to test your steadfastness." He walked toward the bedroom before pausing and turning around.

She had to shove her fist into her mouth to keep from whimpering as she stared at him sidelong; the tempting curve of his backside in those snug black trousers made her skin feel hotter than it already was.

Loki's lips twitched into a brief smirk, and she knew she had been discovered. Dammit! Should she just wait there until Loki dragged her out or should she try and make a break for the bedroom?

As she watched his bare feet turn and move steadily in her direction, she relented.

"I yield!" Scooting the chairs apart and crawling out from under the table, "I yield. I give up."

"You would make a terrible soldier in Asgard's army." Loki laughed as he helped her to her feet.

"What gave me away this time?"

"That is classified information. Why would I spill my secrets to my opponent?" He poured himself a tall glass of water from the pitcher atop his bar.

"I dunno. Maybe make the game a little more fair?" She snatched the glass from him and started gulping.

"How fair is it that you are so small you can hide anywhere?"

"It is not my fault you are half man, half tree."

"There is one I've never heard before." He plucked his glass out of her hand as she went to take another drink.

"I am just saying, everyone looks small to you." She retrieved her own glass and poured herself some water from the pitcher before refilling Loki's. "I am almost the average height for a woman."

"Maybe if you were wearing your thickest shoes and standing on a dictionary you would almost be as tall as the average woman."

She pouted, "It is so unfair. Why did I have to be the youngest and the shortest of my siblings? Why was I cursed with these stubby little legs?" She set her glass down and hopped up onto the barstool.

"Your legs are not stubby. You have very pretty legs."

"You are just saying that to appease me. After I hit puberty, Yulla was always criticizing me about the size of my thighs."

He put his hand on her knee and pushed her skirt up to her mid-thigh. "There is not a thing wrong with your thighs. She was probably just jealous. The Norns blessed you with these and she was forced to walk around on those bird legs of hers."

Eisa rolled her eyes, "Yulla demanded perfection in all things. It was not jealousy; she had a very critical eye."

"There is no justifying poor taste. These thighs are just screaming for someone to come along and take a bite right out of them." He snarled and snapped at her as he pinched her hard on the inside of her leg.

"Loki!" She screamed in surprise and smacked his arm away.

He rubbed his arm dramatically with a hurt look on his face, "You have struck me once again."

"You tricked me, you ass!"

"And now comes the verbal abuse?" He was trying to keep his face solemn, but the sound of her laughter had drawn his smile out of him.

She rubbed the inside of her thigh through her thin linen dress, "That is going to leave a mark."

His smile fell as visions of him marking her thighs with his mouth flooded his mind. He could almost feel the heat of her skin on his cheeks and lips, smell the scent of her arousal, and taste her skin on his tongue as she writhed in his powerful grip.

He turned abruptly and quickly made his way to the balcony.

"Loki?" Eisa slid off the stool and had to catch herself on the bar to keep from falling over. "Loki..."

She followed him outside and saw him leaning on the balustrade with both hands, his head hanging in shame, a position she had found him in many times over the many months. It was always the same thing: he would be smiling or laughing one minute, then fretful or angry the next. She would go to comfort him, and he would send her away.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Not now, Eisa. Please just leave me be."

"No. Not this time. I am not going to leave you out here sulking. Tell me what the matter is."

He shook his head.

"Stop acting like a petulant child. We were having fun. What happened?" She began lightly scratching his hairline at his neck.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Oh, Loki," guilt and remorse in her voice, "I was just teasing. I am not concerned about a tiny bruise on my leg."

"I'm not... I did not mean..." he shook his head again, "Just..."

"Shhh..." She continued the soft scratches on his neck, "Compose your thoughts. We don't have to talk about it right now. Just know I am not upset."

"Excuse me, Your Highnesses." Greta curtsied in the doorway.

Eisa patted Loki's shoulder, letting him know he could stay there, and she would handle this.

"Yes, Greta?"

"The King sent his messenger."

Loki turned around and put a protective arm in front of Eisa.

"I am to pack your trunks and prepare you both for a journey."

"A journey?" Eisa's heart started pounding; she stepped around Loki, "Where to?"

She smiled, "The mountains, Princess. To the King's residence up north."

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Author's Note: Things are heating up in Asgard. In the next chapter, Loki and Eisa's friendship gets a bit more... friendly.